There was no game played between the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins in their Eastern Conference semifinal Saturday. But in an otherwise deserted Mellon Arena, the two teams still found themselves jousting.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. That was a popular refrain in the Buffalo Sabres' and Pittsburgh Penguins' dressing rooms Monday after they practiced on the outdoor rink at Ralph Wilson Stadium in preparation for Tuesday's Winter Classic 2008 (1 p.m., NBC), the NHL's first outdoor game on American soil.